An American National Standard
Designation: D 4477 – 04
Standard Specification for
Rigid (Unplasticized) Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Soffit1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4477; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishes requirements and test
methods for the materials, dimensions, camber, impact
strength, expansion, and appearance of extruded single-wall
soffit manufactured from rigid (unplasticized) PVC compound.
Methods of indicating compliance with this specification are
also provided.
1.2 The use of PVC recycled plastic in this product shall be
in accordance with the requirements in Section 4.
1.3 Rigid (unplasticized) poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) siding
is covered in Specification D 3679.
1.4 Soffit produced to this specification shall be installed in
accordance with Practice D 4756. Reference shall also be made
to the manufacturer’s installation instructions for the specific
product to be installed.
NOTE 1—Information with regard to soffit maintenance shall be ob-
tained from the manufacturer.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
information only.
1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test
method portion only, Section 6 of this specification. This
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
tions prior to use.
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
D 523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.24 on Plastic Building
Products.
Current edition approved Mar. 1, 2004. Published March 2004. Originally
published as D 4477 – 85. Last previous edition D 4477 – 96.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
Insulating Materials for Testing
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
tal Position
D 696 Test Method for Coefficient of Linear Thermal Ex-
pansion of Plastics
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D 1600 Terminology Relating to Abbreviations, Acronyms,
and Codes for Terms Relating to Plastics
D 2244 Test Method for Calculation of Color Differences
from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
D 3679 Specification for Rigid (Unplasticized) Poly(Vinyl
Chloride) (PVC) Siding
D 3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D 4226 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Rigid Poly-
(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Building Products
D 4756 Practice for the Installation of Poly(Vinyl Chloride)
(PVC) Siding and Soffit
D 5033 Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to
the proper Use of Recycled Plastics
D 5947 Test Method of Physical Dimensions of Solid Plas-
tic Specimens
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E 805 Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of
Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
nologies D 883, D 1600, and E 631, unless otherwise specified.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 vinyl soffıt, n—a shaped material, made principally
from rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) that is used to clad the
underside of a roof overhang.
3.2.2 Discussion—Any exception to a homogeneous rigid
PVC compound is present in a coextruded or laminated
capstock.
4. Materials and Manufacture
4.1 The soffit, shall be made of one or more layers of
poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compound. Any layers of materials
other than poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) compound shall be kept
to less than 20% by volume.
 D 4477 – 04
4.2 Use rigid PVC recycled plastic, as defined in Guide
D 5033 if all the requirements in the sections on Terminology
(Section 3), on Materials and Manufacture (Section 4), and on
Physical Requirements (Section 5) are met by the soffit
containing PVC recycled plastic.
4.3 The poly(vinyl chloride) soffit material, when tested in
accordance with Test Method D 635, shall not exceed an
average extent of burn of 4 in. (100 mm), with an average time
of burn not to exceed 10 s. A minimum sample thickness of
0.030 in. (0.8 mm) is required.
NOTE 3—Caution: The flammability testing data, conclusions, and
recommendations of Test Method D 635 relate solely to the measurement
and description of properties for classification of the poly(vinyl chloride)
soffit material in response to flame under controlled laboratory conditions
and shall not be used for the description or appraisal of the fire hazard of
vinyl soffit under actual fire conditions.
4.4 The PVC compound when extruded into soffit shall
maintain uniform color and be free of any visual surface or
structural changes, such as peeling, chipping, cracking, flaking,
or pitting.
5. Physical Requirements
5.1 Length and Width—The nominal length and width of the
soffit shall be as agreed upon between the purchaser and the
seller. The actual length shall not be less than 1⁄4 in. (6.4 mm)
of the nominal length and the actual width shall be within 61⁄8
in. (3.2 mm) of the nominal width when measured in accor-
dance with 6.3 and 6.4.
5.2 Thickness—The minimum thickness of the soffit shall
be 0.030 in. (0.8 mm) when measured in accordance with 6.5.
5.3 Camber—A full length of soffit, typically 10 or 12 ft
(3.05 or 3.66 m), will not have a camber greater than 1⁄8 in.
(3.2 mm) when measured in accordance with 6.6.
5.4 Initial Impact Resistance—The soffit shall have a mini-
mum impact strength of 45 in.·lbf (5.34 J) when tested in
accordance with 6.7.
5.5 Coeffıcient of Linear Expansion— The soffit shall have
a coefficient of linear expansion not greater than 4.5 by 10−5
in./in./°F (8.1 by 10−5 mm/mm/°C) when tested in accordance
with 6.8.
5.6 Gloss—This requirement is not applicable to embossed
or perforated soffit). The gloss of smooth soffit shall be uniform
across the exposed face. Variations in the glossmeter readings
shall not be more than 610.0 % or 65.0 points, when tested in
accordance with 6.9.
5.7 Deflection of the soffit shall not exceed 61⁄8 in. (3.2
mm) when installed flat in a horizontal position over a span of
24 in. (610 mm) without intermittent support when tested in
accordance with 6.11.
5.8 Color—The color of the soffit shall be within the
defined color space parameters for the specific color agreed
upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer. The color
specified shall be uniform on the surface of the soffit panels,
except in the case of multi-colored woodgrain panels.
5.8.1 Uniformity of Color—When tested in accordance with
6.10, the total color change, E, between a production specimen
and the appropriate reference specimen or agreed-upon color
2
coordinates shall not vary by more than 1.5, and the chromatic
coordinates shall not change by more than 6Da = 1.0 and6D
b = 1.0.
6. Test Methods
6.1 General—The inspection and test procedures contained
in this section are used to determine the conformance of
products to the requirements of this specification. Each pro-
ducer who represents its products as conforming to this
specification shall be permitted to use statistically based
sampling plans that are appropriate for each manufacturing
process, but shall keep the essential records necessary to
document, with a high degree of assurance, his claim that all of
the requirements of this specification have been met. Addi-
tional sampling and testing of the product, as agreed upon
between the purchaser and manufacturer, are not precluded by
this section.
6.2 Conditioning and Test Conditions— Condition the test
specimen in accordance with Procedure A of Practice D 618
and test under those conditions, unless otherwise specified
herein.
6.3 Length—Lay the specimen on a flat surface and measure
with a steel tape. Measure the length of a soffit panel to the
nearest 1⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) at the center, the butt edge, and the
bottom of the top lock. The average of the three measurements
is the actual length.
6.4 Width—Interlock two 2-ft (610-mm) long specimens in
the normal mode for installation. Lay the two specimens on a
flat surface. Measure to the nearest 1⁄16 in. (1.6 mm), the
distance between the lowest butt edge of the top specimen and
the lowest butt edge of the bottom specimen. Make a measure-
ment at one end of the specimens and at 6-in. (152.4-mm)
intervals along the entire length, making sure that the measure-
ment is made perpendicular to the butt edge. Average the
measurements. The average constitutes the exposed width of
soffit.
6.5 Thickness—Make a minimum of five equally spaced
measurements across the width of the soffit specimen perpen-
dicular to the exposed surface with a micrometer similar to that
described in Test Method D 5947, Method A or B, with the
exception that the vernier reading shall be to 0.001 in. (0.0254
mm). Average the measurements. The average constitutes the
thickness of the soffit.
6.6 Camber—Place a full length of soffit (typically 10 or 12
ft (3.05 or 3.66 m), on a flat surface alongside a straightedge at
least as long as the soffit specimen. Measure the maximum
space between the edge of the siding specimen and the
straightedge for each edge to the nearest 1⁄16 in. (1.6 mm).
6.7 Impact Resistance—Test impact resistance of soffit in
accordance with Test Methods D 4226, Procedure A impactor
head configuration H.25. 4 in-lb increments (0.5 in height
increments with 8 lb falling weight) shall be used. Minimum
sample dimensions shall be 1.5 in. by 1.5 in. Samples shall be
tested with the normally exposed surface facing up. Condition-
ing time for quality control test shall be at least 1 hr.
6.8 Coeffıcient of Linear Expansion— Conduct this test in
accordance with Test Method D 696.
 D 4477 – 04
6.9 Gloss—Measure gloss with a reflection meter3 in accor-
dance with Test Method D 523, except that a 75° incident angle
shall be used.
6.9.1 Procedure:
6.9.1.1 Measure gloss on one piece of soffit on at least three
widely separated points across the width of the exposed
surface. The area to be tested must be flat.
6.9.1.2 Each reading shall be within the limits specified in
5.6.
6.9.1.3 This test method is not applicable to embossed or
perforated soffit.
6.10 Color Uniformity—Calculate the difference between
the LH, aH, bH color coordinates for a production specimen to
those of either the appropriate reference specimen or the
agreed-upon color coordinates for that specific color product in
accordance with Test Method D 2244. Calculate the total
difference, E, between the production specimen and the refer-
ence specimen in accordance with Test Method D 2244.
6.11 Deflection:
6.11.1 Specimen Preparation—Three pieces of soffit, 30 in.
(762 mm) long, are prepared and conditioned at room tempera-
ture for 24 h.
6.11.2 Apparatus—Two parallel supporting beams, 1⁄2 in.
(12.7 mm) wide at the same level of elevation and 24 in. (610
mm) apart, are set up with the provision of measuring height
distance at the center of the beams.
6.11.3 Procedure—Interlock the three pieces of soffit panel
with ends being in line. Position the soffit unit across the
3
Photovolt reflection meter, Model 610 with search unit 699-7, available from
Photovolt Co., 1115 Broadway, New York, NY 10010, or Gardner Portable
Glossmeter, Model GG7275A, GG7275B, or GG7275C, available from Byk-
Gardner, Inc., 2435-T Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or equivalent, is
suitable.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee D20 has identified the location of the following changes to this standard since the last issue
D4477–96 that may impact on the use of this standard. (Approved Mar. 1, 2004)
(1) Removed Section 1.3, Statement on Non Mandatory Color
Hold Guidelines.
(2) Amended safety statement - pertains only to Section 6.
(3) Removed Colorhold guidelines and Discussion (3.2.1 and
3.2.2) as well as temperate northern climate (3.2.10) from
terminology section.
(4) Removed section call outs in 5.8.
(5) Removed Note 5 pertaining to colorhold guidelines.
(6) Revised Section 6.7 on impact testing of soffit.
(7) Removed reference 8, more than one instrument manufac-
turer was listed - not required to list all.
(8) Removed Figure 1.
(9) Removed Appendix X1, non-mandatory weathering sec-
tion.
(10) Reworked Section 5.9 removing references to section 6.9.
(11) Removed Section 6.9.
(12) Removed former Note 6 pertaining to weathering (ap-
3
support beams so that the ends of the unit are equidistant from
the outside edges of the beams. The panel center area is
compared in height distance to the height of the support beams
and any deviation is recorded.
7. Product Marking
7.1 In order for purchasers to identify soffit conforming to
all requirements of this specification, producers and distribu-
tors shall include a statement of compliance in conjunction
with their name and address on product labels, invoices, sales
literature, and the like. The following statement is suggested
when sufficient space is available: “This PVC Soffit conforms
to all the requirements established in ASTM Specification
D 4477, developed cooperatively with the industry and pub-
lished by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Full responsibility for the conformance of this product to the
specification is assumed by (name and address of producer or
distributor).”
7.2 The following abbreviated statement is suggested when
available space on labels is insufficient for the full statement:
“Conforms to ASTM Specification D 4477, (name and address
of producer or distributor).”
8. Packing, Packaging, and Package Marking
8.1 The soffit shall be packaged in such a manner as to
provide reasonable protection against damage in ordinary
handling, transportation, and storage.
8.2 The provisions of Practice D 3892 shall apply to this
specification.
9. Keywords
9.1 plastic building products; plastic weatherability; re-
cycled plastics; rigid PVC soffit; weatherability color-hold
guidelines
peared after section 5.9).
(13) Reworked ISO Equivalency statement.
(14) In Section 7.1 change “siding” to “soffit”.
(15) Removed reference to ASTM D1435 in referenced docu-
ments section.
(16) Replaced reference to ASTM D374 with ASTM D5947 for
the measurement of test specimens.
(17) Removed Color Guidelines from terminology section -
Will be referenced to Terminologies D 883, D 1600, and E 631
when published.
(18) Removed Table 1, Compound Properties.
(19) Significant Revision of Section 4, Materials and Manu-
facture.
(20) Adjusted minimum length tolerances to be consistent with
D3679.
(21) Revision of Section 6.1, remove permissive language.
(22) Revision of Section 7, remove permissive language.
 D 4477 – 04
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